-that is to say, as many as were not upon the hunt. Most of the
warriors were out, as usual, and only the large boys and the old men
were travelling with the women and their domestic effects and little
ones.

As we approached the scene of action, we heard loud shouts and
the report of fire-arms; but our party was scattered along for a
considerable distance, and all was over before we could reach the
spot. It was a great grizzly bear who had been bold enough to oppose,
single-handed, the progress of several hundred Indians. The council-men,
who usually walked a little in advance of the train, were the first to
meet the bear, and he was probably deceived by the sight of this advance
body, and thus audaciously defied them.

Among these council-men--all retired chiefs and warriors whose ardent
zeal for the display of courage had long been cooled, and whose present
duties were those of calm deliberation for their people's welfare--there
were two old, distinguished war-chiefs. Each of these men still carried
his war-lance, wrapped up in decorated buckskin. As the bear advanced
boldly toward them, the two old men promptly threw off their robes--an
evidence that there still lurked within their breasts the spirit of
chivalry and ready courage. Spear in hand, they both sprang forward to
combat with the ferocious animal, taking up their positions about ten
feet apart.

As they had expected, the fearful beast, after getting up on his
haunches and growling savagely, came forward with widely opened jaws.
He fixed his eyes upon the left-hand man, who was ready to meet him with
uplifted spear, but with one stroke of his powerful paw the weapon was
sent to the ground. At the same moment the right-hand man dealt him a
stab that penetrated the grizzly's side.

The bear uttered a groan not unlike that of a man, and seized the spear
so violently that its owner was thrown to the ground. As the animal
drew the lance from its body, the first man, having recovered his own,
stabbed him with it on the other side. Upon this, he turned and knocked
the old man down, and again endeavored to extract the spear.

By this time all the dogs and men were at hand. Many arrows and balls
were sent into the tough hide of the bear. Yet he would probably have
killed both his assailants, had it not been for the active small dogs
who were constantly upon his heels and annoying him. A deadly rifle shot
at last brought him down.

The old men were badly bruise